Trailhead GPS: Coordinates N41.5379 W74.5197

Getting There: Take Route 17/I 86 to exit 113 and head south on Route 209. After about 1.7 miles Haven Road appears on the left. Turn left here and drive to the parking area on the left to park.

Difficulty: This hike is rated VERY STRENOUS since it is over 10 miles long. Despite the length the hike is almost completely flat. Parts of the trail can be very wet and other parts are hard to follow.

Trail Surface: The trail on the eastern shore going is an abandoned railroad bed which is almost completely flat. This part of the trail is mostly packed dirt and gravel. The path to the tower is rougher with dirt and some tree roots. As the trail heads southwest along the railroad bed, it is very close to the marsh and can be very wet at times. Near the southernmost end the trail comes out onto local roads. As the trial return to the northeast, it follows the canal towpath which is a little rougher with dirt and stones and some tree roots.

Hike Description: Start your hike by walking southeast on Haven Road through the marsh toward the rail trail on the eastern shore. Turn left or northeast on the rail trail as soon as Haven Road clears the marsh. There is an access road to some parking areas which you may follow. The trail here is relatively firm even when it has been raining. After about a mile watch for a trail to an observation tower and turn left on this unmarked trail. Within .1 miles you will be at the tower which is more of an observation platform. There are nice views over the marsh to the north and west. Return to the main trail and turn right or southwest walking back to cross Haven Road. At Haven Road cross to the other side and follow the rail trail southwest. The trail can be VERY wet in places especially after it rains so you may have to cross from one side to the other or use the banks to make it through this area. The banks are covered in barberry and some other thorny brush so making progress can be slow and painful. The rail trail dries out after this but still may have a few muddy spots along the way. There are views of the marsh all along the way. The trail is extremely straight which is not surprising given that it is the old railroad bed. At 3.7 miles there is one of the larger parking areas just off South Road and near the Basha Kill Winery. The water is more open in this area and people like to canoe or kayak from here. When you leave the parking area, continue on the trail which is often wet and muddy. In about .4 miles the Long Path markings appear to head to the right off the rail trail but this may be a dead end. Continue to head south on the rail trail and watch for a sign that says “Long Path”. At about 4.3 miles the trail again may became wet and muddy. Turn left off the trail and walk out to the road. AVOID private property postings as there are a few in the area. Once on the road, continue south and at 4.5 miles the road will cross a small stream. Look to the left and see a beautiful waterfall. The posting in the area is unclear so read carefully before proceeding! Walk to the base of the falls and get a view of the water flowing down over a wall of rock. Walk back out to the road to continue. Walking on the road goes quickly and in about another mile at 5.5 miles into the hike there is a small parking area on the right with an observation deck. The deck gives a nice view of a stream flowing out of the Basha Kill. Turn right out of the parking area and walk to the intersection. Turn right on Otisville Road which runs out to Route 209. The D and H Canal towpath should intersect the road just before Route 209. If you cannot find the towpath, walk out to Route 209 and turn right on the road. Walk .2 miles on the road, to a sign for the Basha Kill and turn right down this dirt road. As you approach a flat area a path turns left across a field and into the trees. As you enter the trees and walk up a small incline turn right. This is the towpath. The canal and the towpath have an interesting history. The canal ran to the left or west of the towpath and in many places the canal is still very obvious. There are still stone walls on either side of the canal and even the trees that now grow in it cannot hide it. Head north and then east to get around a hill before heading northeast for most of the rest of the trip. The canal is now dry in most places but in some areas there is water which hints at the original purpose. In a few places you will see bridges of rock built across the canal. After the canal was no longer in use, these bridges were built across it to reach the towpath and the Basha Kill. At 7.5 miles a dirt road runs down to the Stonefield parking area and this continues for about .35 miles. Continue on the towpath when the road turns into a parking area and at 8.25 miles there will be a bridge that was built over the original canal. The span of the bridge no longer exists but the stonework that made up the abutments is still there. Also present are the stone walls that lined the lane that leads up to the bridge. A little further on the trail crosses a chasm on a wooden bridge. Just to the left is another stone bridge that crossed the canal. At 10.1 miles there is a gate which leads out onto Towpath Road. This short road soon intersects Haven Road. Turn right and walk .3 miles back to the car.

 
Loop from Parking Area – 1.8 mi

Trailhead GPS: Coordinates N41.8700 W75.0195

Getting There: Exit State Route 17 at Exit 94W and turn left on Route 206. Turn left at the traffic light on Stewart Avenue. Exit State Route 17 at Exit 94E and turn right on Stewart Ave. Drive to the T intersection at the end of the road. Turn right on CR 92 and drive up the hill. Continue for 8.7 miles until Tennanh Lake Road appears on the right. Along the way the road changes to CR 93. Turn right on Tennanah Lake Road and drive 1.1 miles to the Crystal Lake Wild Forest access road on the left. Turn left, drive up the road and park in the small lot. If the road is not passable and you choose to park on the shoulder of Tennanah Lake Road, be sure to pull over as far as you can.

Difficulty: This hike is rated MODERATE even though it is less than two miles because the trails are not well marked and are more like well-traveled paths. They are very rough in spots and there are many roots across the trails.

Trail Surface: The surface of the paths around the lake vary from grassy and easy to negotiate to pine =needles and dirt with numerous tree roots. The trail can be wet and muddy in spots.

Hike Description: Walk toward the lake on the access road until you approach the dam at the southern end of the lake. Cross over the dam and watch for some blazes that will guide you round the lake. The trail stays pretty close to the shore of the lake but may be hard to find. Continue looping around the lake until you are back at the dam. Walk back to your car.

 
Trailhead GPS: Coordinates N41.8859 W74.5330

Getting There: Drive to the Sullivan County hamlet of Grahamsville and turn north from Route 55 on Moore Hill Road near the TriValley Central School. Drive 3.2 miles passing Denman Mountain Road on the left. Park in the parking area at the corner of Moore Hill Road and Glade Hill Road.

Difficulty: This hike is rated STRENUOUS because it is over 6 miles long. The trail is very rough in spots and can be wet and muddy. There are several small ascents. There may be wet or muddy areas on the trail. The snowmobile trail markers can sometimes be hard to follow.

Trail Surface: The trail is primarily a snowmobile trail and consists of stones and dirt with a grassy areas and quite a few tree roots. The trail is often wet and muddy in many areas. The return trip is on Moore Hill Road which is mostly packed dirt and gravel.

Hike Description: To start the hike walk across the road and onto the snowmobile trail which begins a slight ascent up a shoulder of Denman Mountain but soon levels of. Watch for the larger red snowmobile trail markers as you hike. The trail descends to a trail junction at about .5 miles. A left turn at this junction leads back out to Moore Hill Road and the road that cuts over to Denman Mountain Road. Turn right to stay on the trail around the mountain. At .85 miles there will be a path or woods road on the left that leads down to some interesting stone foundations. The road is lined with stone walls on either side. The snowmobile trail continues to descend for the next mile but is always lower than the mountain on the right. Since the trail is lower, the water draining from the higher terrain makes the trail very wet in places depending on the season. At about 1.95 miles there is the ruins of a house or cabin on the right side of the trail. You have been heading mostly north but the road for your return is to the east. At 2.15 miles there is another trail junction. Turn right and then bear to the left. For the next 1.2 miles the trail wanders back and forth and up and down but always around the mountain. Finally, at about 3.3 miles the trail turns in an easterly direction and heads directly for the road. For the next 1.5 miles the trail undulates up and down but always heads east. At 4.8 miles, the trail intersects the road. Turn right to head south and back to the parking area. There are some interesting cliffs and one large boulder right next to the road. The road continues heading south and mostly descends with a few ups and downs until you are back at the parking area.

SHAWANGUNK REGION TRAIL

The Fallsburg O&W Rail Trail includes segments from Mountaindale to Woodridge and from Woodridge to the Neversink River. The trail is well-maintained and on level terrain with flowerbeds, a variety of views, and wetlands with excellent areas for bird-watching. Highlights include a Visitor’s Center in Mountaindale with a display of historical railway photographs, artifacts, a new scale train sculpture, rest areas and stretching equipment. Be on the lookout for occasional wet spots and illegal ATVs.

NOTE: Soon to come…Detailed Google Trail Map

Also Visit SullivanStriders.org and the Rails To Trails Brochure for the trail map and more information about the history of the trail and yearly events. Look for the annual Rail Trail Race hosted by the Sullivan Striders.

DIRECTIONS: In South Fallsburg, park by a small playground at Railroad Plaza and Griff Court. The trailhead is up Railroad Plaza behind an enclosed basketball court on the left (along Water St.). In Hurleyville, park near the post office along CR 104.

DIRECTIONS: For the Woodridge-Mountaindale segment, park at the intersection of Green Avenue and Greenfield Road in Woodridge. In Mountaindale, park by the old Mountaindale Train Station, now a visitor center with restrooms, and head past the parking lot and you’ll come to a sign board for the Mountaindale O&W Linear Park. Source: https://www.traillink.com/trail/o–w-rail-trail-.aspx

 

Trailhead GPS: Coordinates N41.95114 W74.70693

Getting There: Exit State Route 17 at exit 96W and turn left on DeBruce Road. Exit State Route 17 at exit 96E and turn right at the end of the exit. Turn left at the end of the road and then take the next left onto DeBruce Rd. From the “caboose” drive 5.6 miles on DeBruce Road to Mongaup Road. Turn left and drive 2.7 miles to where the road splits. Stay left on Beech Mountain Road and drive .3 miles to the parking areas on the left. Park in the large lot.

Difficulty: This hike is rated EASY because it is relatively flat and short. There may be muddy areas along the way. There are a series of wooden boardwalks that can be slippery when wet.

Trail Surface: The trail surface has a few large stones but consists mostly of small stones and dirt. The trail is often wet and muddy. The area around the back of the pond has wooden walkways that can be slippery when wet.

Hike Description: Find the red-blazed Quick Lake Trail which starts at the back right corner of the larger parking lot. Follow it for .2 miles to the trail register and then turn left to stay on the Quick Lake Trail which follows a wide woods road. This area can be wet at times. At Gravestone Junction bear to the left on the Quick Lake Trail and walk down a hill to the bridge at the outlet end of Frick Pond. Take a moment to enjoy this beautiful view. The mountain to the right is Beech Mountain. Cross over the bridge at the outlet to Frick Pond and continue around the pond on the trail. At .7 miles there will be a trail junction. Bear right on the yellow-blazed Big Rock Trail and walk around the “back” of the pond. You will cross over several wooden “bridges” or “causeways” over running water and marshy areas. BE CAREFUL as these wooden bridges are usually in the shade, grow moss readily and can be VERY SLIPPERY. After another .5 miles of walking you will be at Times Square, a four way trail junction. Turn right on the yellow-blazed Loggers Loop Trail and continue to circle Frick Pond. At 1.75 miles you will have completed the loop and it is only .5 miles back to your car. Turn left and follow the red Quick Lake Trail back to the parking area.

 

DELAWARE RIVER REGION TRAIL 

Click on the links below for detailed TRAIL info

Hickok Brook Multiple Use Area is primarily accessed from an easy to find ample parking area located off Barker Road in the Town of Highland.  Camping is available at Hickok Brook MUA as well as a variety of trails, though the markers are difficult to see. There are a variety of roads that lead to campsites — the pull-offs to the right are for camping, while straight ahead is a dead end and left is another dead end with more campsites, marked with yellow DEC markers.

This area is also used by hunters, so if you are hiking during hunting season, be sure to wear bright colors so you are highly visible.

DIRECTIONS: From the Bethel/White Lake Area: Head South on NY-55 for approximately 12 miles (pass through the hamlet of Eldred), then turn left onto Proctor Road. Stay on Proctor Road for app. 1.4 miles, then make a RIGHT onto Barker Rd.  After app. 1/2 mile the entrance will be on your right. The entrance parking area is on the left, but you may drive into the Multiple Use Area (MUA) to get to the different camping locations. There are gates within the MUA, so beware of any designated off-season times, etc.

DIRECTIONS: From the Barryville Area: When on Scenic ByWay 97, take Hillside Road. After app. 1 mile, bear left at the “Y” and continue on Haring Rd for app. 1.5 miles. At app. 1 mile Haring Rd turns into Barker Rd. Follow Barker Rd. for app. 1/2 miles. The entrance will be on your left.